The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways has selected 21 issues for examination during 2026-27, covering operational safety, passenger facilities, reservation systems, freight services and railway modernisation, among other areas.
The committee selects subjects related to the functioning, policies and finances of the Ministry of Railways for detailed examination each financial year. Its reports are subsequently tabled in Parliament, along with recommendations for the ministry to consider and implement improvements.
Passenger safety and station facilities in focus
Among the passenger-centric issues selected for review are the status of safety in Indian rail operations, improvement of public facilities at railway stations, the functioning of the passenger reservation system and an evaluation of onboard services across Indian Railways.
The committee will also examine the upgrading of tracks, signalling systems and rolling stock, along with progress on new rail lines, doubling projects and the status of road-overbridges and road-underbridges.
Station upgrades, new production units and workshops, and the elimination of level crossings will also come under scrutiny.
Freight diversification and commercial development
The committee has identified several business and commercial activities for examination, including the optimal utilisation of railway land and planned commercial development of station areas.
The development of multi-modal logistics parks and their integration with road and port networks will also be reviewed.
Coal, iron, cement and clinker account for more than 70 per cent of the volume and revenue contribution of railway freight services. Against this backdrop, the committee will examine ways to diversify the freight basket.
High-speed rail and suburban networks
India's proposed high-speed rail network is among the major projects selected for study.
In the Union Budget for 2026-27, the government announced seven high-speed rail corridors spanning approximately 4,000 km, with an estimated total investment of Rs 16 lakh crore.
The committee will also review the status and progress of suburban railway networks across the country, including new projects and expansion plans. Public-private partnership (PPP) initiatives aimed at augmenting railway infrastructure will be examined as well.
PSUs, energy efficiency and heritage conservation
Indian Railways' public sector undertakings and workshops will be assessed for their performance and contribution to the network's growth and expansion. Their corporate social responsibility activities will also be examined.
Other subjects on the committee's agenda include energy efficiency across Indian Railways, promotion of railway-based tourism, human resource management and heritage conservation.